The High Court yesterday deferred the date for delivering verdict to March 15 on a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for quashing the proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine corruption case against her.

The order came after Khaleda's lawyer Zainul Abedin prayed to the court to shift the date saying that they would place arguments on this matter.

Earlier on March 5, the court had fixed March 10 for delivering the judgment after hearing arguments from Khurshid Alam Khan, a counsel for the Anti-Corruption Commission which filed the case on February 26, 2008.

However, Khaleda's lawyers were not present before the court on that day.

The ACC filed the case, accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for the operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company abusing power.

Following a petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on October 16, 2008 stayed the case proceedings and also issued a rule upon the government and the ACC to show cause as to why the proceedings against her in the case should not be quashed.